I came across this low-budget independent movie on Netflix streaming movies. Just over 90 minutes, I hated watching most of it not because it wasn't interesting. It is a very interesting character study of two people from very different backgrounds. But the guy is so obnoxious, so self-centered, that I wanted to reach into the screen and punch him out. But I suspect that is what the director wanted us to feel.
There is an additional complexity to the story in that his friend is going to get married in Europe, but Gethin Anthony is 30-ish "American" William, who alternately says he is from New York or from Canada, seemingly cautious about the reception he might get from Europeans. His mission is to find his grandfather and his only clues are an old letter from his deceased father and some old photos.
Quite by accident he meets 14-ish ("I will be 15 in a few days") Frederikke Dahl Hansen as Effy. In her home country she is quite an experienced young actress and she is great in this role. She has such an interesting and pretty face, and such a natural acting style that she never seems like she is acting, she really seems to be her character and she, more than he, makes the movie what it is.
(An important side note, there are romantic scenes including brief topless nudity in a hotel room, but the actress was in fact over 18 during filming and this is stated clearly also in the end credits.)
So the story arc over a couple of days has Effy helping him figure out ways to find his grandfather and William growing up a bit in how he relates to people. He finds his grandfather who asks him "Was you father a good dad"? To which William responds, "No he wasn't, but he didn't much example to go on."
A good film for a different style, I couldn't stop watching it.
SPOILERS: Before they part both William and Effy claim they love each other, for William the first time he has reached that level of caring for anyone. For Effy it was a childhood infatuation, she probably didn't yet know what love really was. He heads back home, she heads back to her school classes. In the very end she is being cradled by her mom who asks if she is too old for a certain birthday treat and she says no, indicating that she indeed is still a little girl, but one with unusual wisdom for her age.
There is an additional complexity to the story in that his friend is going to get married in Europe, but Gethin Anthony is 30-ish "American" William, who alternately says he is from New York or from Canada, seemingly cautious about the reception he might get from Europeans. His mission is to find his grandfather and his only clues are an old letter from his deceased father and some old photos.
Quite by accident he meets 14-ish ("I will be 15 in a few days") Frederikke Dahl Hansen as Effy. In her home country she is quite an experienced young actress and she is great in this role. She has such an interesting and pretty face, and such a natural acting style that she never seems like she is acting, she really seems to be her character and she, more than he, makes the movie what it is.
(An important side note, there are romantic scenes including brief topless nudity in a hotel room, but the actress was in fact over 18 during filming and this is stated clearly also in the end credits.)
So the story arc over a couple of days has Effy helping him figure out ways to find his grandfather and William growing up a bit in how he relates to people. He finds his grandfather who asks him "Was you father a good dad"? To which William responds, "No he wasn't, but he didn't much example to go on."
A good film for a different style, I couldn't stop watching it.
SPOILERS: Before they part both William and Effy claim they love each other, for William the first time he has reached that level of caring for anyone. For Effy it was a childhood infatuation, she probably didn't yet know what love really was. He heads back home, she heads back to her school classes. In the very end she is being cradled by her mom who asks if she is too old for a certain birthday treat and she says no, indicating that she indeed is still a little girl, but one with unusual wisdom for her age.